Earlier today, the D.C. Court of Appeals declined to stay the impending legalization of same-sex marriages in Washington.

In a terse opinion [PDF] today, the appeals court refused to overturn a Superior Court judge's decision not to postpone the District's same-sex marriage from going into effect. Which means, barring some unlikely congressional intervention, come next Wednesday, March 3, gay couples can start lining up at the courthouse. (Pursuant to District law, they''ll have to wait three business days to actually do the deed, so no weddings till Tuesday.)

Over at the Sexist, Amanda Hess has everything you need to know about tying the knot, starting with your trip to the H. Carl Moultrie I District of Columbia Courthouse. You'll need to bring $35 and avoid Fred Phelps & Co.

UPDATE, 5:15 P.M.: Download your new, gender-neutral marriage license application form [PDF] if you want (via GLAA Forum).

Photo via nerdcoregirl, Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0

At first I wasn't so sure that you had recently gotten married. But then I noticed that you had changed your last name to a completely different last name. "Hmm," I thought. "That's weird." A quick perusal of your photo gallery didn't help clear up the matter. Why do you appear to be leaning against an abandoned but polished vintage car at the edge of a wooded marsh, your left hand posed strangely in the air, as some dude stares intently into your face? And to think: In all that time that you were sitting three or more rows behind me in Freshman Biology, you never once mentioned your interest in doubles rustic portraiture.

But then I saw that series of photographs of you swathed in a huge, flowing, white satin dress, some dude staring intently into your face. At that point, I was sooooo on to you!

Your autobiographical section only helped heighten my suspicion that you had recently gotten married:

Website: http://www.[some dude]and[girl who sat three or more rows behind me in Freshman Biology]swedding.com

Interests: Enjoying my wonderful husband!, Trying to talk [some dude] into my design ideas for our home.

I must admit that I became a bit confused when I reached the "Favorites Book" section, where you include "Anything by bell hooks and Gloria Steinem." Hmm. Anything?

Thanks for clearing it all up:

Relationship Status: Married.

Don't Care,

Amanda Hess